Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said he held an “honest, but not easy” meeting with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas in New York, with discussions covering Kosovo, former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić, elections in Serbia and the ongoing student-led campaign.
Speaking to Serbian public broadcaster RTS, Vučić said the two discussed a range of issues, including Mladić, the situation in Kosovo and the implementation of obligations under the Brussels Agreement.
“I insisted on the implementation of the norms of the Brussels Agreement,” Vučić said, referring to commitments arising from the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina.
He also said he tried to explain to Kallas his understanding of the campaign being conducted by the student-backed electoral list, adding that he himself did not fully understand its nature.
Vučić specifically referred to a campaign video associated with students at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts (FDU), alleging that it contained threats of sexual violence against him. These allegations reflect Vučić’s characterization of the video and have been disputed in the broader political debate surrounding the student movement and the upcoming elections.
“I told her that I did not really understand what kind of campaign it was when your biggest opponent is threatened with rape from the official Instagram account of FDU students,” Vučić said.
He added that he had not asked Kallas or the EU to take action on his behalf, saying that he considered it his responsibility to raise the issue of threats against women in Serbia.
The meeting took place during Vučić’s visit to New York, where he has been holding a series of meetings on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Vučić was also scheduled to meet U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau before addressing the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
